Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 4th century CE. A beautiful mosaic depicting a grand ship with its sail raised and blowing in the wind, amidst a plethora of sea creatures - fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods - created from hundreds of tesserae in a color palette of earthtones - sienna, umber, chocolate brown, creamy beige, yellow ocher, charcoal grey, black, and white. Maritime scenes including ships and other seafaring vessels as well as aquatic creatures were favorite themes in Roman mosaics. Here the artist used different colors and shapes (square and triangular for the most part) to shade and model the forms - approximating three dimensions in their volumes as well as a sense of movement - note the billowing sail, the swimming fish, and the jet propulsion of the cephalopods. Of course, the artist took liberties that depart from reality. After all those fish probably could not actually jump as high as they appear to be, so as to approach the sail; however, they certainly make for an intriguing composition. Size: 44" W x 32.75" H (111.8 cm x 83.2 cm)

Mosaics (opus tesellatum) are some of our enduring images from the Roman world, not only for their aesthetic beauty, but also because they reveal what Romans chose to depict and see every day decorating their private and public spaces. Maritime subjects were popular in Greco-Roman art. One of my favorites is in the House of the Faun in Pompeii (end of 2nd century BCE, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples). Another from Piazza Armerina, room 22, depicts an entertaining scene of winged Erotes reeling in their catch (4th century CE).

Provenance: private Davis collection, Houston, Texas, USA; ex-Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger Auction 277-278, Munich, Germany, lot 542

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#132772

Some areas of loss - mostly to the perimeter but also to some areas of the interior composition as shown. Most of the border is missing; however, about 15-20% of the top and bottom border remain. Set in a pigmented concrete matrix with a metal frame for support.